INTERCONTINENTAL CHICAGO

505 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago icchicagohotel.com

Built in 1929 as the Medinah Athletic Club, the InterContinental is a straight-up business hotel that provides a peek into Prohibitionera history. On top of the building is a golden dome, originally designed as a dock for dirigibles. Dive into history, literally, in the famed hotel pool preserved in its flapper-era glamour, right down to a Neptune fountain and fish-scale windows. The hotel is easily accessible from the business district and the Michigan Avenue shopping strip.

↓ Business facilities A 24-hour business centre and a FedEx print-and-ship facility are available in the lobby, with round-the-clock access for guests. Wi-fi Fee-based wi-fi packages are available. Food and wine Opt for the lobby-level Eno wine bar or Michael Jordan’s Steak House over the more standard-issue hotel restaurant. But beware the prices at Jordan’s – superior meals can be found for roughly the same price nearby. Directly across the street, for instance, is the award-winning Purple Pig, a deservedly crowded wine bar with well-executed bistro fare. Fitness and wellbeing The health club is small but the magnificent pool promises a truly original swimming experience. Massages and other services are offered at the adjacent spa. Run route Make an early-morning exit via the hotel’s side door and take off, heading east down Illinois Street all the way to the end, where Navy Pier extends into Lake Michigan’s blue waters. Stop to admire the city from the tip of the pier before heading back – a round trip that’s just under four kilometres.